HPU dean leads higher-education group

Alissa Arp, vice president for research and dean of the College of Natural Sciences at Hawaii Pacific University, was elected chairwoman of the Women Leaders in Higher Education's Hawaii state chapter and appointed president-elect of the Hawaii Academy of Science.

Beverly Allen, director of music at Le Jardin Academy in Kailua, was inducted into the Ankeny High School's Hall of Honor in Iowa by its alumni association. Allen has been teaching for 48 years in Iowa, Japan and Hawaii, including 37 years at Le Jardin. She started the general music program and the Red Cross-approved swimming program at Le Jardin. She also wrote the school song and created the extracurricular Ukulele Choir.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has awarded $25,000 to the Honolulu Community Action Program's Malama Pono Program, a mentoring program that has helped more than 80 Windward Oahu children whose parents are in prison. OHA also gave $24,500 to the Hawaii branch of the International Dyslexia Association (HIDA) for its Odyssey Project, which helps disadvantaged children and adults who have dyslexia. The OHA money will be focused on those who are Hawaiian.